"Let the people think they govern and they will be governed"

This quote by William Penn suggests that individuals should be given the impression of control in order to be successfully governed. Penn is recommending that people must be permitted to believe that they are in control of their own lives and decisions, even if this is not the case. This idea is based on the concept of 'magnificent right', which states that people ought to be enabled to think that their rulers are chosen by God and are for that reason infallible. Penn's quote suggests that if individuals are provided the impression of control, they will be most likely to accept and comply with the rules and guidelines set by their rulers. This idea is still relevant today, as lots of federal governments use the principle of 'democratic' guideline to provide people the impression of control over their own lives. By allowing people to think that they remain in control, governments can guarantee that their residents are more likely to follow the laws and guidelines set by them.